RADIO
Each week, we will look at rookies who have either performed well the previous few weeks or who have a favorable matchup in the upcoming week. These may be high-profile names or under-the-radar depth players; the only thing that matters is that they are first-year pros ready to make a name for themselves.
Hopefully, by the time the season ends, many of them will be household fantasy names and be remembered for their performances in the 2017 season.
With no further ado, here are some NFL rookies to watch in Week 4 of the 2017 season.
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Rookies Worth Your Attention
The Stud Youngster
Dalvin Cook, RB, Minnesota Vikings
Talk about a breakout performance. 32 touches, 164 all-purpose yards, and a touchdown conversion to boot. Dalvin Cook has entrenched himself as the workhorse in the Minnesota Vikings offense and looks to be the running back of the future as well as the present for the organization. Even after getting injured and sitting out a few plays, Cook came back in and made the most of his opportunities. Throughout three games, Cook is averaging 4.6 yards per carry and is a constant factor in the receiving game. Expect several more performances close to this one for the rest of the season, as Cook should lead the offense and team with his playmaking ability and raw talent.
The One Week Wonder
DeShone Kizer, QB, Cleveland Browns
Rookie quarterback DeShone Kizer posted a very respectable fantasy day, throwing for two touchdowns, almost 250 yards, and adding in a rushing score to boot. However, this was also accompanied by three interceptions on the day - Kizer now leads the league in interceptions with seven. Although his ultimate fantasy score makes it seem as if he could become a good weekly option, playing for the Browns and being a rookie does not combine for fantasy success. Owners should use great caution when deciding whether or not to stream Kizer in the upcoming weeks; he offers a decent floor with his rushing ability, but you can't trust someone who seems to love throwing to the other team as much as he loves throwing to his own. It also helps when you actually have receivers to throw to, and Kizer seems to be missing those as well. Be warned.
The Locked-In Starter
Evan Engram, TE, New York Giants
Unfortunately, this week the locked-in starter isn't the usual plug-and-play option for rookies. However, it must be noted that tight end Evan Engram has consistently recorded at least four receptions and 44 receiving yards in each of his games. This makes him a decent option for PPR formats and deeper leagues. With Eli Manning starting to improve and the addition of all-world wide receiver Odell Beckham into the lineup, Engram should see plenty of the open field to continue to be consistently targeted and could create more with his opportunities and finish as the top rookie tight end this year. Not a great starting option, but it's tight ends, so there rarely ever are rookies who fit that bill right away.
The Under-The-Radar Sleeper
D'Onta Foreman, RB, Houston Texans
Although the Texans offense as a whole has been rather disappointing, one bright spot for the team has been running back D'Onta Foreman. Working behind Lamar Miller, Foreman has amassed twenty carries in the last two weeks. Against the Patriots, Foreman was held to eight carries for 25 yards, but he also had two receptions and generated 65 yards through the air. Foreman is currently only averaging 3.3 yards per carry, but a good portion of those carries have been in short-yardage situation. While it is difficult to get too excited about the Texans offense considering the quarterback and offensive line situation, Foreman could be a late-season lottery ticket that pays off if he assumes a workhorse role in the offense. Keep an eye on the Texans running back situation and make Foreman a top waiver priority if he hasn't already been picked up in your league.
The One To Stash
Corey Clement, RB, Philadelphia Eagles
Undrafted rookie free agent Corey Clement made the most of his six carries in the Eagles late win against the Giants in Week 3. Clement had six carries for 22 yards and a touchdown and worked as a backup to LeGarrette Blount for the game. Clement should be considered a depth stash as the Eagles have one of the best offensive lines in the league and their running backs seem to be dropping like flies (Pumphrey, Sproles, etc.). With the lack of trust that coach Doug Pederson has in Blount, only him and Wendell Smallwood stand in the way of Clement carving out a significant workload for the offense. By the end of the season, Clement could end up assuming a larger role of the offense and has the upside and ability to become the lead back. Although there are a few obstacles in his way, his production thus far is cause for encouragement and at least worth a later waiver wire pickup or close monitoring of his situation.
